Paneled wall structure



7 March 21, 1939. 2 D. M. MEEKER PANELED WALL STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1938 00/7/29/ M Meeker INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 21, 1939. MEEKER 2,151,221

' PANELED WALL STRUCTURE Filed Ap ri l 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I HF I! U I 00/7/22/ 4/. hacker ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE PANELED WALL STRUCTURE Application April 28, 1938, Serial No. 204,848

12 Claims.

This invention relates to paneled wall structures, and particularly to Wall structures which are covered by sheet metal panels or tiles.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- I vide a paneled wall structure in which the panels have secure supports but nevertheless are easily individually removable and replaceable.

Another object is the provision of a paneled wall structure in which the panels are secured to m the wall framework by fastening devices having resilient panel holding fingers, but in which the panels are additionally interlocked with rigid portions of the fastening devices.

Another object is the provision of a paneled wall structure having improved meansfor facilitating adjustment of the spacings between the panels. I

Another object is the provision of wall panels with cooperating fastening devices that may be assembled upon the panels and then secured to wall framework, so that necessity of previously locating the fastening devices in carefully measured positions on the wall framework is avoided.

Another object is the provision of wall panels and fastening devices so designed that the panels may be attached to wall framework in any desired sequence. I

Another. object is the provision of a rigid panel structure which may be economically formed from sheet metal and coated with vitreous enamel at high temperatures without liability of warpage.

And still another object is the provision of panel fastening and supporting means of simple and economical construction.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals 40 designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:- Figure I is a view in perspective of two panel attaching devices with panels assembled there- 45 with, portions of the panels being broken away;

Figure II is a plan view showing one of the panel attaching devices secured to a fragment of a wall framework and having two panels assembled therewith, portions of the panels being broken away; I

Figure III is an elevational view of a portion of a paneled wall structure embodying my invention, parts of some of the panels being broken away;

Figure IV is a plan View in section along the a line IV- I V of Figure III, illustrating the paneled wall structure of my invention incorporating an angular corner panel, a flat wall panel, and a curved corner panel;

Figure V is a view in perspective showing the back of an angular corner panel constructed in 5 accordance with my invention;

Figure VI is a view in perspective showing the back of a flat wall panel constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figure VII is a View in perspective showing the back of a curved corner panel constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, flat wall panels constructed in accordance with my invention are formed of sheet metal, and each panel has a plane face portion 1, preferably of square or rectangular shape. Along each side of the face portion l is a rearwardly extending wing 2 having an inwardly turned flange 3 extending along its rear edge, the wings 2 and the flanges 3 being welded together at the corners of the panel to form a rigidpan-like structure. The outer surface of the panel is preferably coated with vitreous enamel, and the inner surface may also be coated with vitreous enamel or other rustproofing material.

The fastening devices employed for attaching the wall panels to wall framework are brackets, each of which has a flat back portion 4 perforated for the reception of screws or nails 5. Struck up from the metal of the back portion is a tongue 6 which, when the bracket is in use, extends forwardly between the tiles in the manner illustrated in Figures I and II. Extending forwardly at each side of the back portion 4 is a flange I having a V-shaped extension 8, and secured to each extension 8 and projecting inwardly toward the tongue 6 is a spring finger 9, the inner end of which is curved away from the tongue 6. The upper and lower ends of each flange 1 are provided with notches Hi adapted to receive the inturned flange 3 of a panel, and lugs II extend forwardly from the top and bottom of the back portion 4 to engage the flange 3 and prevent it from slipping beneath the end of one of the spring fingers 9.

When the flat wall panel is to be attached to a wall frame, two brackets are assembled upon a wing 2 which is to extend vertically when the panel is in place on the wall. To assemble a bracket upon the panel wing it is only necessary to insert the flange 3 between the tongue 6 and a spring finger 9, with the tongue on the outside of the panel wing, and push the bracket and panel together until the flange 3 engages the lugs ll. 55

After the bracket which is to be uppermost is thus assembled with the panel, it is slid upwardly along the vertical wing 2 and flange 3 until the flange 3 extending along the horizontal upper wing of the panel is received in the notch at the upper end of one of the flanges l. The bracket which is to be lowermost when the panel is applied to the wall is left somewhat above the lower side of the panel so that there is no engagement of the flange 3 along the lower horizontal wing of the panel in the notch I0.

The brackets being thus assembled on the panel in the manner in which they are illustrated in Figures I and II, may be secured to a wall frame by driving nails or screws through the openings which are exposed beyond the edge of the panel when it is placed against a wall frame.

After one panel has thus been fastened-in place on a wall frame, two more brackets may be and other tiers may be built above and below, as

indicated in Figure III.

The free end ofthe tongue which extends. between the wings 2 of adjacent panels is curved and may be easily bent to increase or diminish the curvature and thus adjust the spacing between-the panels. This adjustment is very im- .portant in enabling the erector to bring the end panels of a tier into proper relationship to corners and wall ends.

Angular corners may be covered by angular corner panels or tiles, like that-illustrated in Figure V, which are provided with rearwardly extending wings 2 and inwardly extending flanges 3 uponwhich the brackets may be assembled in the same manner as that in which they are assembled upon flat tiles. Rounded corners may be covered by curved panels ortiles like that illustrated in Figure VII. The curved panel has vertically extending side wings 2 and flanges 3, like those of the flat panels, and may have similar Wings and flanges extendingalong its curved upper and lower sides, but for ease of forming I prefer to cut away the lower flange and substantially all of the lower wing and cut away the middle portion of the upper wing and flange, leaving only the portions adjacent the corners to support the panels when the flange'3 is received in the notch ll] of a bracket. In order to improve the watertightness of the horizontal joints between the curved panels, an upstanding rib I2 may be formed along what is left of the upper horizontal wing.

After the wall frame has been covered by the panels of my invention, the joints between the panels may be filled with waterproof plastic cement l3, in the manner indicated in Figure II.

It will be observed that the upper inturned flange 3 of each panel is positively interlocked with the notch in the upper end of a flange I; that support of the panel is nowise dependent upon the strength of the spring fingers 9,'but that the weight of the panel is carried by the heavy metal of the fastening device. For this reason, the spring fingers 9 may be made rela; tively light and flexible so that the fastening devices and panels may be asembled without dim culty'or liability of damage.

If after the wall is finished a panel should be accidentally damaged by a blow or collision, it may be removed without disturbing the adjacent panels. To remove a panel, the repair man scrapes the cement from the spaces around the panel, then inserts a screwdriver or similar tool under the panel and slides it upwardly so that its upper. horizontal flange 3 .is liftedfrom the notches 1D .in the bracket. The panel then may be pulled or pried out, the resilient fingers 9 yielding to permit the vertical flanges 3 to slip between themand the tongues 6. A new panel may be pushed into the space until it engages the lugs ll, whereupon it may be slid downwardly until its upper horizontal flanges are received in the notches ID of the bracket and the spaces around the panel may be refilled with plastic waterproof cement.

Insome situations, as where panels are applied to ceilings instead of walls, it is desirable that brackets at three corners of each panel have their notches l engaged by panel flanges 3. In such situations, the brackets are pushed into all four corners of the panel until flanges are received in'a notch ll] of each bracket, and after the brackets have been nailed in place the metal angle of one of the outside notches I0 is broken off with a pair of pliers to permit the next adjacent panel to be placed. In this way, each of i the panels throughout the; extent of the ceiling may-be supported by engagement of flanges '3 in notches ID at at least three corners.

From the foregoing it will be seen-that in-the Wall construction of my invention, pre-locating of fastening devices in carefully measured positions on the wall is unnecessary, and that the spacing of the panels, which is facilitated by the bendable tongues that extend between them, also helps to obviate the necessity of accurate dimensioning and locating. It will be observed also that the manner in which the panels are hung by their inturned upper flanges from notches in the heavy metal of the fastening devices provides a more secure support than that of resilient holding fingers, and yet leaves the panels readily removable when occasion requires, since the stop lugs I l at the top and bottom edges of thebrackets prevent the inturned flanges from getting caught under-the ends of the resilient fingers; Since the spring fingers are'not required to support the panels, they can be made of such light spring steel that the brackets can be assembled-upon the panels with the greatest ease, yet there isno liability of the panel accidentally coming away from its support. It will be observed further that byreason of the fact that each panel is supported independently, no particular sequence needs be followed in applying the panels to a wall frame. The application of the panels can be begun at any part of the wall that is ready for them, and if panels for all parts of the wall are not available at once, those which are available first can be placed without waiting; Because of the conformation of the panels, they are very strong and rigid, and they can be economically formed from sheet metal and coated with vitreous enamel at high temperatures without liability of warpage.

Notwithstanding the many important functions of various features of my fastening device, it will be seen that it is of simple and economical construction. I

The embodiment of my invention herein shown andgd'escribed isto be regarded as illustrative only, and it'is to beunderstood that the invention in their upper ends is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a fastening device for wall panels, a bracket formed of sheet metal and having a flat back portion, there being a pair of forwardly extending flanges along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having notches in their upper ends and having V-formed extensions at their centers, spring fingers secured to said extensions and projecting inwardly and toward said back portion, the free ends of said spring fingers being curved rearwardly, up from said back portion and projecting forwardly between the free ends of said spring fingers and a pair of lugs extending forwardly from the top and bottom of said back portion.

' 2. In a wall structure, a fastening device for wall panels comprising a bracket formed of sheet metal and having a flat back portion, there being a pair of flanges extending along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having notches and having V-formed extensions ,at their centers, spring fingers secured to said extensions and projecting inwardly and toward said back portion, the free ends of said spring fingers being curved rearwardly, there being a tongue struck up from said back portion and projecting forwardly between the free ends of said spring fingers and a pair of lugs extending forwardly from the top and bottom of said back portion, in combination with a wall panel having rearwardly extending side wings terminating in inwardly extending flanges, one of said wings and flanges being received between the tongue and one of the spring fingers of said bracket, the flange of another wing being engaged in a notch at the end of one of the flanges of said bracket, a lug of saidbracket acting to space the flanges of said panel from the back portion of said bracket, the forward end of said tongue being bendable to adjust the position of said panel.

3. In a fastening device for wall panels, a bracket formed of metal and having a flat back portion, there being a pair of flanges along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having end notches, spring fingers secured to said flanges and projecting toward said back portion, there being a tongue projecting from said back portion and extending forwardly between the free ends of said spring fingers and a pair of lugs extending forwardly from the top and bottom of said back portion.

4. In a wall structure, a fastening device comprising a bracket formed of metal and having a back portion, there being a pair of forwardly extending flanges along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having end notches, spring fingers secured to said flanges and projecting toward said back portion, there being a tongue projecting from said ing forwardly between the free ends of said spring fingers and a pair of lugs extending forwardly from the top and bottom of said back portion,

tending flanges, one of said side wings and flanges being received between the tongue and one of the spring fingers of said bracket, a lug of said bracket acting to space the flanges of said panel from the back portion of said bracket, the forward end of said tongue being bendable to adjust or position said panel.

5. In a fastening device for wall panels, a

there being a tongue struck back portion and projectbracket formed of sheet metal and having a back portion, there being a pair of forwardly extending flanges along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having end notches, spring fingers secured to said flanges and projecting toward said back portion, and a tongue projecting between said spring fingers.

6. In a wall structure, a fastening device for wall panels comprising a bracket formed of metal and having a back portion, a pair of forwardly extending flanges along the sides of said back portion, said flanges having end notches, spring fingers secured to said flanges, a tongue projecting between said spring fingers, in combination with a panel having rearwardly extending side Wings, one of said side wings being received between the tongue and one of the spring fingers of said bracket, said panel having a flange received in an end notch of one of the flanges of said. bracket.

7. In a wall structure, a fastening device for wall panels comprising a bracket formed of metal and having a notch formed therein, said bracket being provided with a spring finger, there being a tongue projecting adjacent said spring finger, in combination with a panel having a rearwardly extending side wing received between the tongue and spring finger of said bracket, said panel having a flange received in the notch of said bracket whereby accidental separation of said panel and said fastening device is prevented.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a wall panel having a face portion and a rearwardly extending wing portion, and a plurality of brackets, said brackets each being removably assembled on said wing portion and having a part projecting beyond the area of said face portion, said brackets each being independently shiftable along said wing portion, the projecting part of each said bracket being adapted to receive driven fasteners to secure it to a wall frame, and there being means upon the projecting part of each said bracket adapted after said bracket is secured to a wall frame to receive and retain the wing portion of another panel.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a wall panel having a face portion and rearwardly extending side and top wing portions, and a bracket having a spring finger resiliently engaged with said side wing portion whereby said bracket is removably assembled thereon, the top wing portion of said panel having a downwardly extending flange, said bracket having a notch and being slidable along said side wing portion to engage said notch with said flange, said bracket driven fasteners to secure it to a wall frame.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a wall panel having a face portion and rearwardly extending side and top wing portions, and a bracket having a spring finger resiliently bracket is removably assembled thereon, the top wing portion of said panel having a downwardly extending flange, said bracket having a notch and being slidable along said side wing portion to engage said notch with said flange, said bracket being adapted after wall frame to receive and retain the wing portion of anotherwall panel.

11. In a device of the. class described, in come bination, a wall panel, and a fastening device said fastening device having resilient means engageable with a portion of said wall panel to hold said wall panel and fastening device together, said wall panel and fastening device having interlocking portions and being relatively shiftable when held togetherby said resilient means to lock and unlock said interlocking portions, said fastening device having a portion adapted to project between adjacent wall panels.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, a wall panel, and a fastening device,

said fasteningdevice having resilient means en-, gageable; with a portion of said wall panel to hold said wall panel and fastening device together, said wall panel and fastening device having interlocking portions and being relatively shiftable when held together by said resilient means to lock and unlock said interlocking portions, said fastening .device having .a portion adapted to project between adjacent wall panels, the portion adapted to project between said wall .panels being bendable to adjust the spacing between said wall panels.

DANIEL M. 

